Science Studies PhD Program

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

The Science Studies Program at UC San Diego is an interdisciplinary PhD
program committed to working toward a deeper understanding of scientific knowledge
and technological change, past and present. The program offers students an
opportunity to integrate the perspectives developed in communication studies
and the history, sociology, and philosophy of science, while receiving a thorough
training at a professional level in one of the component disciplines. Students
enrolled in the program choose one of the four disciplines for their major
field of specialist studies and are required to complete minor field requirements
in the others. Students are also required to take the Introduction to Science
Studies, Advanced Approaches to Science Studies, and two interdisciplinary,
topical “core” seminars, and to attend the program colloquium. Science studies
students are encouraged to select dissertation topics that offer scope for
a cross-disciplinary approach. The PhD will be awarded in communication (science studies), history (science studies), sociology (science studies), or philosophy (science studies). In special circumstances, students may be permitted to work for the MA.